In early March, the first round of the 2011 Davis Cup will be played.  We present our preview and analysis of the first round pairings.

Serbia versus India
Novi Sad, Serbia
Indoor hard

Serbia, defending champions, will meet India, who qualified by beating Brazil for the first time.  Coming off the high of winning the Davis Cup in front of their hometown fans in Belgrade in early December, Serbia have to be considered strong favorites.  The Serb team will include Novak Djokovic, Viktor Troicki, Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic.  India will counter with Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.


Sweden versus Russia
Boras, Sweden
Indoor hard

Sweden, which has won the Davis Cup seven times faces two-time Davis Cup champions, Russia, at home in Sweden.  Sweden leads their head-to-head series 4-1, but they haven’t played since 2002 and the teams are quite different now.  Robin Soderling is a strong Number One for Sweden, but the team is lacking depth.  Joining Soderling will be Joachim Johansson, Robert Lindstedt and Simon Aspelin.  However, with Nikolay Davydenko still working to recover from wrist surgery the Russians have struggled a bit the past year or two.  The Russian team will include Teymuraz Gabashvili, Igor Andreev, Igor Kunitsyn and Dmitry Tursunov.

Czech Republic versus Kazakhstan
Ostrava, Czech Republic
Indoor hard

Czech Republic usually fields a team that includes Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, but Stepanek has pulled out because of illness and Berdych is now uncertain because of a leg injury.  The Czechs will welcome Kazakhstan to the World Group in their first meeting at home in Ostrava. Czech Republic, who reached the finals in 2009 and semis in 2010, should be the favorites in this Tie over the improving Kazakstan team, but you never know in Davis Cup!

Argentina versus Romania
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Outdoor clay

Argentina, a former finalist, will host the Romanians, also past finalists, at home on clay.  The Argentines’ biggest challenge will be fielding its best team.  Injuries have sidelined Juan Martin del Potro and Davis Cup stalwart, David Nalbandian, for a lot of the past year or so and Juan Monaco also missed months in 2010 because of injury.  The Romanians beat Ecuador to return to the World Group, but they should face stiff competition against the Argentines outdoors on clay.  Nalbandian has made it clear that winning the Davis Cup is one of his major goals and that journey in 2011 starts with this first round Tie!


Chile versus USA
Santiago, Chile
Outdoor clay

The United States, behind new captain Jim Courier, and returning Davis Cup “leader”, Andy Roddick, will travel down South to face the Chileans outdoors on clay.  The US has beaten Chile in all four of their previous Ties.  Chilean star, Fernando Gonzalez, will be on the sidelines because of injury making the Americans the favorites to win despite playing on clay in Chile.  The Chilean team will include Paul Capdeville, Jorge Aguilar, Nicolas Massu and Guillermo Rivera.  The biggest question mark for new captain Courier will be who to play at second singles, i.e. John Isner or Sam Querrey, neither of whom has played well recently.

Belgium versus Spain
Charleroi, Belgium
Indoor hard

Spain last faced Belgium in 2003, winning 5-0 and leads their head-to-head rivalry 2-1.  Spain, who has won the Davis Cup four times in recent history, should be the strong favorites despite playing in Belgium.  After losing to France 5-0 in the 2010 Davis Cup quarterfinals, Spain will definitely be hoping to start the 2011 campaign on a positive note!  Spain will bring its best team of Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez.  Meanwhile, Belgium will counter with Xavier Malisse, Olivier Rochus, Steve Darcis and Ruben Bemelmans.


Croatia versus Germany
Zagreb, Croatia
Indoor hard

Croatia, who won the Davis Cup in 2005, will host the Germans who lead their rivalry 2-1.  Croatia has been the stronger team in the past few years losing to eventual champions, Serbia, in the quarters last year.  Germany, which won the Davis Cup three times in the past will be seeking to regain its past glory, but it won’t be an easy task given the current state of German men’s tennis.

Austria versus France
Vienna, Austria
Indoor clay

France, who have never lost to the Austrians will be playing on indoor red clay inside an Airport hangar in Vienna!  Jurgen Melzer played very well in 2010, but the French team, finalists in 2010, has much more depth so they should be the favorites although the clay could prove challenging.